Dept. of Social Work, M.G. Kashi Vidyapith

History

Mahatma
Gandhi Kashi Vidyapith was established by Mahatma Gandhi in 1921 to engage
students in Indian Freedom Movement and to raise political consciousness among
youth.
Working with youth especially male for gender
equality was initiated in 2003 by MASVAW.

History of Involvement With Men_

Website:

Area of Work:Varanasi

Contact Person:Dr. Sanjay Singh

Being
a co founder of MASVAW discussion around gender based violence, discrimination
and sexual harassment of female students studying in M. G. Kashi Vidyapith was
initiated by Dr. Sanjay in 2003. M G Kashi Vidyapith is located in Varanasi
called holiest of the holy place by religious point of view. Geographically and
culturally it comes in Purvanchal Bhojpuri region that is highly patriarchal.
So the university campus is very patriarchal. That puts adverse impact on women
as they used to face discrimination, exploitation and sexual harassment and
dehumanizing impact on men. So, MASVAW started campaign for safe campus in
2003, consequently, rapid fall in the rate of cases of harassment of female
students was observed. At the same time mindset of male students was observed
to be changed and becoming pro –women. They realized about their traditional
patriarchal and masculine (hegemonic) mindset and tried to change.
A
number of group activities, group work, FGDs, workshops and seminars are still
organized to on issues such as gender based violence, masculinity, sexuality,
patriarchy, positive parenting, responsible fatherhood in order to gender
sensitize, mobilize and engage youths for gender equality.
Topics
related to gender issues were incorporated in course curriculums of M.S.W.,
M.A.S.R.D., Education and Law in M.G. Kashi Vidyapith and in MSW course
curriculums fo Bundelkhand University, Jhansi, MJP Rohilkhand University,
Bareilly and MG Chitrakoot University, Chitrakoot, Satna, MP.
Ph-D.s
on issues related to gender were promoted in Department of Social Work.
A special course on Gender, School and society
was started in Faculty of Education BHU, Varanasi.